IntroductionA cactus (plural cacti or cactuses) is any member of the succulent plant family Cactaceae. They are often used as ornamental plants, but some are also crop plants.

Edible cactus is also known as nopales, nopalitos or cactus pads. This vegetable is popular in Mexico and other Central American countries, parts of Europe, the Middle East, India, North Africa and Australia. Its popularity is increasing in the United States where it can be found at Mexican grocery stores, specialty produce markets and farmer’s markets. [1]

Edible cactus is characterized by its fleshy oval leaves (typically called pads or paddles) of the nopal (prickly pear) cactus. [1] With a soft but crunchy texture that also becomes a bit sticky (not unlike okra) when cooked, edible cactus tastes similar to a slightly tart green bean, asparagus, or green pepper. [1]

Cactus pads contain beta carotene, iron, some B vitamins, and are good sources of both vitamin C and calcium. [1]

Cactus leaves (edible cactus or nopales) and the prickly pearAs part of the cactus plant, the prickly pear is a fruit that is 2 to 4 inches long and shaped like an avocado. Its skin is coarse and thick, not unlike an avocados and it ranges in color from yellow or orange to magenta or red. Tubercles with small prickly spines can be found on the prickly pear’s skin. This fruit’s flesh, which ranges in color also from yellow to dark red, is sweet and juicy with crunchy seeds throughout. [1]

The prickly pear can be diced like pineapple and used as a topping on yogurt or cereal or blended into a smoothie. [1]_____________________________________________________________________________________________Potential Health Benefits of Cactus

Because of the great number of potentially active nutrients and their multifunctional properties, cactus pear (Opuntia spp.) fruits have been suggested for the production of health-promoting food and food supplements. However, scientific findings are actually very limited to support any health claims on these products or supplements. [2]

Anyway, one of the popular species, O. humifusa Raf., has been found to have potent anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. In their study, organic solvent extracts showed potent scavenging effects. Particularly, the ethyl acetate fractions significantly blocked the expression of IL-1beta from the RAW264.7 cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide. [6] Cactus powder was also shown tits ability for lowering the levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in normal and hyperlipemia wistar rats. However, the beneficial effect was more obviously in hyperlipemia rats than that in normal rats in the study. [11] Further, the methanol extract of Opuntia ficus-indica was oberved to offer a neuroprotective action against N-methyl-d-aspartate-, kainite- and oxygen-glucose deprivation-induced neuronal injury in cultured mouse cortical cells. [8] Thus, Cactus extracts may have many different kinds of health benefits to people at risk of certain diseases.

Cladode (a flattened stem resembling and functioning as a leaf)Stems of Opuntia ficus-indica are traditionally used in Mexico to treat diabetes mellitus. A study with the traditional cladode cactus extract revealed that maximum effects on blood glucose and insulin were observed after oral administration in a dose range of 6-176 mg/kg. [A5] An ethanol extract of the Opuntia ficus-indica stem was found to have a high amount of phenolics (180.3 mg/g), and antioxidant properties. [A11]

In a study, the mucilage of Opuntia ficus indica cladodes (stem) exerted a protective effect on rats suffered from ethanol-induced ulcer. [3] In another study, topical applications of the polysaccharides extracted from the Opuntia ficus-indica cladodes for six days showed a beneficial effect on the wound of rats. Polysaccharides with higher molecular weights were more effective on wound healing than the lower molecular weight polysaccharides. The healing effects of these polysaccharides may be related to the hygroscopic, rheologic and viscoelastic properties of these polysaccharides. [5] Further, researchers also demonstrated the protective effect of the extracts of Opuntia ficus indica cladodes in cartilage alteration. [4]

Opuntia humifusa, also known as the Eastern Prickly Pear or Indian Fig, is a native cactus found in most of eastern North America. Opuntia humifusa stem contains high levels of antioxidants including vitamin C, flavonoids, and polyphenols, thus, it is likely that stem of this cactus may benefit people at risk of diabetes. A study of diabetic mice has demonstrated that treatment of this cactus stem for seven weeks reduces the blood glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the animals. [A1] In another study, the Opuntia humifusa stem was extracted with different solvents and screened for radical scavenging activity. Further, the cacti's bioactive fractions were evaluated for their action on human colon cancer (SW480) and breast cancer (MCF7) cells. An ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract exhibited the highest cytotoxicity and resulted in an up-regulated expression of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax (bcl-2 associated X protein) and a down-regulated expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl2 in both SW480 and MCF7 cells. Thus, Opuntia humifusa stem extracts may have potential in the prevention of cancer through modulation of apoptosis markers and inhibition of inflammatory pathways. [A10] Thus, the cactus stem of this species may offer health benefits on various conditions.

FruitsExtracts of cactus pear fruit polysaccharide decreased blood glucose and blood limit in STZ-induced diabetic rats. It seems that the cactus fruit extracts can stimulate the insulin secretion from the beta cells. Thus, if this effect is repeatable in human, then, cactus fruit extract may offer benefits to diabetic patients in certain ways. [A9]

Fruit JuiceOpuntia ficus indica fruit juice contains many phenol compounds, ascorbic acid, betalains, betacyanins, rutin and isorhamnetin derivatives, thus, it is believe that cactus fruit juice may provide many different health benefits. A study of rats has demonstrated the protective effects of cactus fruit juice on liver. [10] It was also found that pretreatment of a lyophilized powder containing Opuntia ficus indica var. saboten fruit juice and maltodextrin and betanin significantly reduced stress gastric lesions in rats. [A8]

SeedsCactus seeds are good sources of nutrients, it may benefit people at risk of different diseases. Its contents of minerals are: calcium 471.2 mg/kg, potassium 532.7 mg/kg, magnesium 117.3 mg/kg, phosphorus 1,627.5 mg/kg and natrium 71.3 mg/kg. The fatty acid profiles of seed oil from the Opuntia ficus indica were analyzed. Linoleic acid is the major fatty acid (61.01%), followed by oleic (25.52%) and palmitic (12.23%) acids. Myristic, stearic and arachidonic acids were detected in O. ficus indica seed oil in low amounts. [A7] Cactus seeds are an important source of natural fiber and, given its high linoleic acid content, its oil can be used as a nutraceutic agent. Based on its content, it is believed that cactus seeds may have many different health benefits. In a study, diet with Opuntia ficus indica powder seeds had a significant improvement in HDL-cholesterol of rats. Researchers found a decrease of glucose concentration in blood and an increase of glycogen in liver and skeletal muscle among these rats. [7]

FlowersCactus flower extracts may benefit people at risk of inflammation, diabetes and some other diseases. In Egypt, Opuntia dillenii (Ker-Gawl) Haw has been used in folk medicine as an antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory agent. Alcohol extracts of the cactus flowers revealed a potent anti-inflammatory effect and a pronounced analgesic action at a dose of 200 mg/kg against a carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema model. [9] In a separate study, methanolic cactus flower extracts (Opuntia ficus indica) showed antioxidant and antiulcerogenic activities in vitro test and in an animal study. Researchers who conducted the study believe the antiulcerogenic activity of the cactus flower extract might be due to a possible synergistic antioxidant and antihistamic-like effects. [A6]_____________________________________________________________________________________________STATEMENT

Most scientific supports for the health benefit claims of Cactus are in vitro experiments and in animals. It is unclear if Cactus can repeat the effects in human body. This article is for reference only, it is not a medical advice. One must consult with her / his medical doctor before taking herbs, supplements or medicine. Finally, do not copy nor transfer the content to other websites.